Meaningful connections, healthier minds

About

Being Known, LLCBeing Known seeks to help people explore the integral relationship between deep, meaningful connections with God and others–being known–and the development of healthier minds, healthier communities and ultimately, a healthier world. Through Being Known, LLC, Curt Thompson, MDspeaks and writes for varied audiences to help people explore the connection between interpersonal neurobiology, Christian spiritual formation and vocational creativity. Dr. Thompson is the author of Anatomy of the Soul (Tyndale, June 2010) which demonstrates how insights from interpersonal neurobiology resonate with biblical truths about God and creation—validating the deep human need for meaningful relationships as a key to a life of hope and fulfillment. He has also authored The Soul of Shame (IVP, 2015),which explores the roots of shame, its effects on our lives, and provides the theological and practical tools to dismantle it.

Center for Being Known (CBK)The Center for Being Known is the nonprofit education arm of Being Known and exists to educate, train and resource people and communities so they can live more meaningful, connected lives with those around them. A young nonprofit, CBK has created and piloted an Immersion Training in Being Known core curriculum. This Immersion consists of 2 days of dynamic teaching and experiential activities followed by several months of guided community practice. Following the Immersion, participants are equipped with experience and knowledge necessary to lead others in the process of renewal and healing found at the intersection of the biblical narrative and interpersonal neurobiology. CBK is in the process of refining the Immersion Training based on input from the pilot group and hopes to offer an Immersion Training in Washington, DC in the coming months. If you are interested in hearing more about this, let us know by completing this form!CBK is funded by individuals and organizations/foundations eager to accelerate CBK’s program development efforts. If you would like to make more of this work possible, support CBK here.

Meet the CBK Team

Curt Thompson, MDAuthor, Speaker, Psychiatrist

Curt Thompson, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Falls Church, Virginia and the founder of Being Known, LLC, and The Center for Being Known, an organization that develops resources to educate and train leaders about the intersection between interpersonal neurobiology, Christian spiritual formation, and vocational creativity. He is the author of Anatomy of the Soul and The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves. He graduated from Wright State University School of Medicine, completed his psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital, and is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is actively engaged in learning and education as he supervises clinical employees and facilitates ongoing education groups for patients and colleagues. Throughout his career, along with treating adults, adolescents, and families, his main focus of clinical and research interest has been the integration of psychiatry, its associated disciplines, and Christian spirituality. He is a frequent speaker on the topic at workshops, conferences, and retreats.

He has specific expertise in the field of interpersonal neurobiology and how it reflects important tenants of Christian faith, providing opportunities to comprehend and experience that same faith in fresh trustworthy ways. Much of his work is now committed to training other professionals across cultures and in multiple vocational domains in the same material.

He and his wife Phyllis are the parents of two children and reside in Arlington, Virginia. He serves as an elder at Washington Community Fellowship, a congregation of the Mennonite church, in Washington, D.C. His duties there have included preaching, teaching, and involvement in the fellowship’s healing prayer ministry.

Kristen Terry, LMSWCounselor, Speaker, Consultant

Kristen is a counselor, speaker, and consultant focusing on helping people understand and live out the brain’s astounding ability to recover, rewire, and heal. Kristen’s approach includes leveraging her specialized training from Curt Thompson and others, with current scientific research in interpersonal neurobiology, to understand and treat client struggles. She enjoys translating complex ideas from the mental health field into useful knowledge. She owns a private counseling and consulting practice.

Kelsey Myers, LMFTCounselor

Kelsey is a licensed marriage and family therapist and serves with Curt Thompson & Associates. She is passionate about incorporating the concepts of interpersonal neurobiology in her work with individuals, couples, families and especially with therapeutic groups. Kelsey has special interest in the effects of community and vulnerability on the healing and growth of individuals and systems. She has experience leading retreats and facilitating community groups incorporating the ideas of IPNB and Christian spiritual formation.

Curt Thompson, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Falls Church, Virginia and founder of Being Known, and author of Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life… more >

If you have been paying attention, you will notice that lately there has been a growing interest in certain circles about empathy. It has, thankfully, moved out of the privacy of the mental health consultation rooms and neuroscience research studies and into the classroom, the boardroom and the bedroom. In fact, there really is no human interaction that will not be better because the participants are attuned to empathy and its place in the engagement… more >

We would be hard pressed to imagine a God whose love is anything but kind, generous, empathic, and welcoming. No doubt, we know he hates injustice, arrogance, abuse, and any number of other social or personal ills we might easily name. But we are not as seamlessly able—or willing—to imagine that God would ever say “No,” as an explicit function of his loving us… more >